A CHILDCARE lecturer may be forced to give up her job for the sake of her children because of a lack of free parking in Blackburn.

Sally-Anne Mitchell, 41, claims that due to traffic congestion she would have to leave her Belthorn home at 7.45am to guarantee a space on the Blackburn College's car park.

She forks out £200 a year in permits but the college has confirmed there are more permits then spaces available.

With her two children not going to school until 8.30am, she is unwilling to leave them home alone.

But with free parking spaces virtually dried up it means she is having to pay to park in the long stay town centre parks, which can be up to £5 a day.

And it is a situation she fears will mean she has to choose between her kids or her job.

She said: "It's quite ironic that a childcare lecturer like me may have to give up a job I love because of my children. But to guarantee a place in the college car park I have to leave the house at 7.45am and I am unwilling to leave my children home alone"

She added: "There is virtually no free parking in Blackburn any more and I cannot afford to put my car in one of the town centre car parks all day.

"The problem is the council wants to pedestrianise the town and for us all to catch buses. But what about the people who work here? I need my car as part of my job involves going out to visit students. The government wants single parents like me to work but I am being forced to chose between my kids or my job."

But executive member for regeneration Coun Andy Kay said Ms Mitchell was no different to other workers.

He said: "It is not unusual for people who work in town centres to have to pay for car parking.

"There are however, a wide range of long stay places available for use by town centre workers, especially in the area near the college."

College principal Ian Clinton said he was sorry that occasionally spaces were not available for all staff and students.

He stressed: "The college has 450 parking spaces available for staff and students. We operate a first come, first served' flexible policy."